The MLSnet.com editorial staff takes a look inside the 2009 MLS All-Star Game between the MLS All-Stars and storied English club Everton FC to see who holds the edge in each position matchup.
David Moyes guided the always-challenging Toffees to a fifth-place finish in the English Premier League last season, as well as a trip to the FA Cup Final, taking down Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United, among others, along the way.
Does Dominic Kinnear's side of MLS elite have enough to outmuscle this English powerhouse? Tune in on Wednesday night (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, Galavision) to find out for sure. In the meantime, check out who we believe has "The Edge" and weigh in yourself.
| Position |  |  | Edge | Fans' pick |
| Forwards | Landon Donovan is in the midst of, arguably, the finest stretch of soccer of his distinguished career. Conor Casey is having a breakout season in Colorado, while Fredy Montero is a budding star, both within and outside of MLS circles. | Everton boasts arguably more depth up front than the MLS All-Stars, but with Yakubu and Louis Saha both coming off of injury-plagued seasons, the focus of the Toffees' attack falls more on 22-year-old Brazilian striker Jo, entering his first full season with the club. | | |
| Midfielders | Losing Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Dwayne De Rosario and Shalrie Joseph hurts, and fatigue could be an issue for Gold Cup stalwarts Stuart Holden, Kyle Beckerman and Davy Arnaud. However, Freddie Ljungberg is certainly no stranger to EPL competition and Cuauhtemoc Blanco remains as dangerous as ever. | Aussie Tim Cahill is one of the world's most dynamic central midfielders, while Phil Neville excels alongside him in a holding role. Mix in Marouane Fellaini's attacking ability and the creativity of Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman on the wings, and the midfield may be Everton's best unit. | | |
| Defenders | MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall is coming off of a tremendous showing at the Gold Cup, while Chicago's Wilman Conde and Bakary Soumare continue to evolve into top-shelf center backs. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Geoff Cameron have been two of the great surprises of the MLS season. | Joleon Lescott continues to establish himself as one of England's finest defenders and Joseph Yobo has been through the trenches, but the unit is weakened with Phil Jagielka unavailable. Leighton Baines is an emerging star at left back, having broken into the English national team last season. | | |
| Goalkeepers | After a long, decorated career in England's top flight, a clash with Everton is almost like a homecoming for Kasey Keller. For late All-Star addition Zach Thornton, this game symbolizes the renaissance of his career. | It's safe to say that Tim Howard, in the unique position of having played on the other side of this game, learned many tricks of the trade from Keller, his mentor with the U.S. national team. However, now in his prime, the student may have become the teacher. | | |
| Overall | From a pound-for-pound perspective, the talent between the All-Stars and Everton FC seems to balance out rather evenly. The match could well come down to mitigating factors. The Toffees are still trying to round into shape, having lost two of three preseason matches thus far. Meanwhile, injuries and CONCACAF Champions League play have robbed the All-Stars of some top talent, while the Gold Cup may leave several others fatigued. In the end though, it says here the in-form and unbeaten All-Stars find a way to grind out a win. | | ||
